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of the little creek which Friday swam across when pursued by his
two brother cannibals with sharpened stomachs。 After comparing
notes with other travellers who have similarly revisited the Island
and conscientiously inspected it； I have satisfied myself that it
contains no vestige of Mr。 Atkins's domesticity or theology； though
his track on the memorable evening of his landing to set his
captain ashore； when he was decoyed about and round about until it
was dark； and his boat was stove； and his strength and spirits
failed him； is yet plainly to be traced。 So is the hill…top on
which Robinson was struck dumb with joy when the reinstated captain
pointed to the ship； riding within half a mile of the shore； that
was to bear him away； in the nine…and…twentieth year of his
seclusion in that lonely place。 So is the sandy beach on which the
memorable footstep was impressed； and where the savages hauled up
their canoes when they came ashore for those dreadful public
dinners； which led to a dancing worse than speech…making。 So is
the cave where the flaring eyes of the old goat made such a goblin
appearance in the dark。 So is the site of the hut where Robinson
lived with the dog and the parrot and the cat； and where he endured
those first agonies of solitude； which … strange to say … never
involved any ghostly fancies； a circumstance so very remarkable；
that perhaps he left out something in writing his record？ Round
hundreds of such objects； hidden in the dense tropical foliage； the
tropical sea breaks evermore； and over them the tropical sky；
saving in the short rainy season； shines bright and cloudless。
Neither； was I ever belated among wolves； on the borders of France
and Spain； nor； did I ever； when night was closing in and the
ground was covered with snow； draw up my little company among some
felled trees which served as a breastwork； and there fire a train
of gunpowder so dexterously that suddenly we had three or four
score blazing wolves illuminating the darkness around us。
Nevertheless； I occasionally go back to that dismal region and
perform the feat again； when indeed to smell the singeing and the
frying of the wolves afire； and to see them setting one another
alight as they rush and tumble； and to behold them rolling in the
snow vainly attempting to put themselves out； and to hear their
howlings taken up by all the echoes as well as by all the unseen
wolves within the woods； makes me tremble。
I was never in the robbers' cave； where Gil Blas lived； but I often
go back there and find the trap…door just as heavy to raise as it
used to be； while that wicked old disabled Black lies everlastingly
cursing in bed。 I was never in Don Quixote's study； where he read
his books of chivalry until he rose and hacked at imaginary giants；
and then refreshed himself with great draughts of water； yet you
couldn't move a book in it without my knowledge； or with my
consent。 I was never （thank Heaven） in company with the little old
woman who hobbled out of the chest and told the merchant Abudah to
go in search of the Talisman of Oromanes； yet I make it my business
to know that she is well preserved and as intolerable as ever。 I
was never at the school where the boy Horatio Nelson got out of bed
to steal the pears： not because he wanted any； but because every
other boy was afraid： yet I have several times been back to this
Academy； to see him let down out of window with a sheet。 So with
Damascus； and Bagdad； and Brobingnag （which has the curious fate of
being usually misspelt when written）； and Lilliput； and Laputa； and
the Nile； and Abyssinia； and the Ganges； and the North Pole； and
many hundreds of places … I was never at them； yet it is an affair
of my life to keep them intact； and I am always going back to them。
But； when I was in Dullborough one day； revisiting the associations
of my childhood as recorded in previous pages of these notes； my
experience in this wise was made quite inconsiderable and of no
account； by the quantity of places and people … utterly impossible
places and people； but none the less alarmingly real … that I found
I had been introduced to by my nurse before I was six years old；
and used to be forced to go back to at night without at all wanting
to go。 If we all knew our own minds （in a more enlarged sense than
the popular acceptation of that phrase）； I suspect we should find
our nurses responsible for most of the dark corners we are forced
to go back to； against our wills。
The first diabolical character who intruded himself on my peaceful
youth （as I called to mind that day at Dullborough）； was a certain
Captain Murderer。 This wretch must have been an off…shoot of the
Blue Beard family； but I had no suspicion of the consanguinity in
those times。 His warning name would seem to have awakened no
general prejudice against him； for he was admitted into the best
society and possessed immense wealth。 Captain Murderer's mission
was matrimony； and the gratification of a cannibal appetite with
tender brides。 On his marriage morning； he always caused both
sides of the way to church to be planted with curious flowers； and
when his bride said； 'Dear Captain Murderer； I ever saw flowers
like these before： what are they called？' he answered； 'They are
called Garnish for house…lamb；' and laughed at his ferocious
practical joke in a horrid manner； disquieting the minds of the
noble bridal company； with a very sharp show of teeth； then
displayed for the first time。 He made love in a coach and six； and
married in a coach and twelve； and all his horses were milk…white
horses with one red spot on the back which he caused to be hidden
by the harness。 For； the spot WOULD come there； though every horse
was milk…white when Captain Murderer bought him。 And the spot was
young bride's blood。 （To this terrific point I am indebted for my
first personal experience of a shudder and cold beads on the
forehead。） When Captain Murderer had made an end of feasting and
revelry； and had dismissed the noble guests； and was alone with his
wife on the day month after their marriage； it was his whimsical
custom to produce a golden rolling…pin and a silver pie…board。
Now； there was this special feature in the Captain's courtships；
that he always asked if the young lady could make pie…crust； and if
she couldn't by nature or education； she was taught。 Well。 When
the bride saw Captain Murderer produce the golden rolling…pin and
silver pie…board； she remembered this； and turned up her laced…silk
sleeves to make a pie。 The Captain brought out a silver pie…dish
of immense capacity； and the Captain brought out flour and butter
and eggs and all things needful； except the inside of the pie； of
materials for the staple of the pie itself； the Captain brought out
none。 Then said the lovely bride； 'Dear Captain Murderer； what pie
is this to be？' He replied； 'A meat pie。' Then said the lovely
bride； 'Dear Captain Murderer； I see no meat。' The Captain
humorously retorted； 'Look in the glass。' She looked in the glass；
but still she saw no meat； and then the Captain roared with
laughter； and suddenly frowning and drawing his sword； bade her
roll out the crust。 So she rolled out the crust； dropping large
tears upon it all the time because he was so cross； and when she
had lined the dish with crust and had cut the crust all ready to
fit the top； the Captain called out； 'I see the meat in the glass！'
And the bride looked up at the glass； just in time to see the
Captain cutting her head off； and he chopped her in pieces； and
peppered her； and salted her； and put her in the pie； and sent it
to the baker's； and ate it all； and picked the bones。
Captain Murderer went on in this way； prospering exceedingly； until
he came to choose a bride from two twin sisters； and at first
didn't know which to choose。 For； though one was fair and the
other dark； they were both equally beautiful。 But the fair twin
loved him； and the dark twin hated him； so he chose the fair one。
The dark twin would have prevented the marriage if she could； but
she couldn't； however； on the night before it； much suspecting
Captain Murderer； she stole out and climbed his garden wall； and
looked in at his window through a chink in the shutter； and saw him
having his teeth filed sharp。 Next day she listened all day； and
heard him make his joke about the house…lamb。 And that day month；
he had the paste rolled out； and cut the fair twin's head off； and
chopped her in pieces； and peppered her； and salted her； and put
her in the pie； and sent it to the baker's； and ate it all； and
picked the bones。
Now； the dark twin had had her suspicions much increased by the
filing of the Captain's teeth； and again by the house…lamb joke。
Putting all things together when he gave out that her sister was
dead； she divined the truth； and determined to be revenged。 So；
she went up to Captain Mur